Final answer:
Nurses use the rights of drug administration to ensure safety, which includes the correct medication, dose, timing, route, and patient. An oral route is typically most appropriate for home administration of systemic antimicrobial treatments. Considering factors such as patient mass and organ function is important for determining dosage.
Step-by-step explanation:
To promote patient safety, the nurse utilizes the "rights" of drug administration which include the right medication, the right time of delivery, the right dose, the right route of administration, and the right patient. All of these factors are crucial to ensure that patients receive the correct drug treatment safely and effectively.
When it comes to the administration of an antimicrobial to treat a systemic infection at home, the most appropriate and convenient route of administration is often oral. Intravenous administration is also a route, but less convenient for home administration. Topical and parenteral routes could be used for other types of infections or conditions, but are not typically used for systemic infections when treated at home.
Factors to consider when determining the dosage of a drug include the patient's mass, especially in children, the history of liver or kidney function which can affect drug metabolism and elimination, as well as aiming to achieve therapeutic levels that minimize the risk for side effects. Typical side effects can vary widely depending on the drug but can include allergic reactions among others.